Annual Report 2018-2019

1 TABLE OF CONTENTS

About Us 3 Welcome Message 4 Board of Directors 5 Executive Committee 6 Mission and Vision 7 Objectives 8 Hiking in 9 Hiking in Ontario

Living Our Mission 2018-2019 11 Courses 14 Education 15 Advocacy 16 Partnerships 18 Programs: Mood Walks 19 Programs: Insurance 20 Member Organizations 21 Financials

2 WELCOME MESSAGE

For 45 years, Hike Ontario has had one goal – to encourage walking, hiking and development in Ontario. In this, our 45th year, Hike Ontario is proud of how far we have come and look to the future with great enthusiasm.

Our success in 2018-2019 is firmly rooted in the success of our member organizations. Strong, professional organizations dedicated to providing Ontarians and visitors with exceptional hiking and walking experiences. Terri LeRoux, President The beautiful simplicity of hiking trails often obscures the incredible investment of volunteer time, energy and money provided by trail organizations and clubs. Millions of people use . trails with little thought to who made them possible. We know who made them possible – you.

We extend our sincere thanks to the members of the Hike Ontario Board of Directors and to the many volunteers across Ontario that making hiking trails possible.

Thank you for walking the Hike Ontario journey with us.

See you on the trails,

Terri and Ian

Ian Bailey 3 Vice President BOARD OF DIRECTORS 2018-2019

Directors at Large Club Representatives

Frieda Baldwin Bernard Goward, The Avon Trail Mike Bender Scott Robeson, Bayfield River Valley Trail Association Tom Friesen Anne Armstrong, Conservancy Shompa Hai Dave Kirkpatrick, Elgin Hiking Trail Club Roma Juneja Raymond Soucy, Elora Cataract Trailway Association Terri LeRoux Jim Wood, Ganaraska Hiking Trail Association Inc. Bill Mungall Charles Whitlock, Grand Valley Trails Association Lewis Williams Mike Curtis, Guelph Hiking Trail Club Wayne Terryberry, Hamilton Burlington Trail Council Staff Roland Gatti, Humber Valley Heritage Trail (Kleinburg) Allison Stoecker, Maitland Trail Association David Rosenblun-Bordeau Peter Schaefer, Oak Ridges Trail Association Office Administrator Sharen Yaworski, Rideau Trail Association Ian Bailey, Thames Valley Trail Association Carole Blaquiere, Voyageur Trail Association

4 Terri LeRoux, President Ian Bailey, Vice President Sharen Yaworoski, Secretary EXECUTIVE Roma Juneja, Treasurer COMMITTEE Tom Friesen, Past President Lewis Williams, Chair, Certification Committee 2018 -2019 Mike Bender, Chair, Education Committee Shompa Hai, Chair, Fundraising Committee Bill Mungall, Issues, Policy and Advocacy Committee Frieda Baldwin, Chair, Planning and Development Committee

for protecting, connecting and sustaining the Credit River watershed. 5 OUR MISSION

To encourage walking, hiking and trail development in Ontario.

OUR VISION

Hike Ontario is the province’s most valuable support resource for hiking and walking groups and pedestrian trail users.

6 OUR OBJECTIVES

1. Encourage walking for recreation, transportation and health 2. Provide courses in introductory safe hiking and hike leadership in both wilderness and non-wilderness settings to people of all ages 3. Support and facilitate trail development for walking and hiking throughout Ontario 4. Enable good trail maintenance and hiking practices and the enhancement and quality of the walking experience 5. Encourage and facilitate the development of trail building hiking clubs in Ontario 6. Advocate for a club or clubs when requested or when an initiative is deemed necessary 7. Promote education and research into the health benefits and other aspects of recreational walking 8. Encourage conservation and appreciation of the natural environment 9. Maintain and disseminate information on hiking and hiking trails 7 HIKING IN ONTARIO

• 44% of Canadians aged 15 and over reported they had been hiking or backpacking in the 12 months prior to being surveyed. (Stats Canada, 2017 census)

• Nearly 7 in 10 Canadians participate in outdoor or wilderness activities (Stats Canada, 2017 census)

8 HIKING TRAILS IN ONTARIO

Ontario is home to the second largest network of trails in Canada, with over 80,000 kilometres spread out across the province (National Trails Coalition, 2010).

Who manages these trails? • Ontario Parks: 330 Provincial Parks with 10 million visitors year • Conservation Ontario: 300 Conservation Areas, 2600 kms of trail with 6 million visitors a year • 444 Municipalities • Trail Clubs and Organizations • Private trails (campgrounds, tourism businesses)

9 HIKE ONTARIO: LIVING OUR MISSION

10 LEADERSHIP COURSES:

1. Certified Hike Leader

2. Wilderness Day Hike Leader

3. Wilderness Trip Hike Leader

COURSES: GENERAL INTEREST COURSES: 7 Certification Courses 4. Safe Hiker

5. Wilderness Hiker (New)

6. Navigation: Map & Compass (New)

7. Navigation- GPS (New)

11 40 Courses delivered across Ontario

38 Certified Instructors COURSES: In High Demand New Master Hike Instructor designation introduced

466 Participants

12 National Cadet & Junior Canadian Ranger Program

Wye Marsh: Courses delivered on site COURSES: Creating Community Connections Ontario Colleges and Universities: Safe Hiker Course

Central Lake Ontario Conservation Authority: Workshop for new Canadians

13 Established New Education Committee with enhanced membership (2019)

Annual Numbers of Website Visits: 131,363; Unique Visitors: 87,140; and total Hits 1,665,229

EDUCATION: 12 Newsletters Produced and Circulated Inspiring and informing

Social Media Followers: 34, 832

Researching the Establishment of Informal and Formal Hiking Clubs to help grow and support the sector

14 Hike Ontario presented at the Ontario Ministry of Finance's Pre- Budget Consultation in Waterdown, encouraging the Province to finish up the Ontario Trails Strategy by striking a task group on landowner incentives (at no cost to the Province) , and linking this to the prospect of a growing number of trails, and to improved health benefits for the populace and the Province.

Hike Ontario and the Bruce Trail Conservancy (BTC) produced and presented a 3rd annual workshop on strengthening Landowner Relations to a full house of 24 club attendees at the BTC headquarters in Dundas, Ontario with a particular emphasis on clubs building relationships with municipalities. Advocacy: The Voice for all Hikers Hike Ontario made two visits to Ontario Public Service (OPS) staff at the head office of Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport (MTCS) in Toronto to lobby for continued action on elements of the Ontario Trails Strategy and for base funding for Hike Ontario similar to that provided for Provincial Sports Organizations.

Hike Ontario has a representative on the Risk Management Committee, struck by the Ontario Trails Council. Focus to date has been the completion of a draft, generalized trail classification system that can be further refined and used by all trail user groups on a voluntary basis (once approved by MTCS and the Ontario Trails Coordinating Committee).

15 Hike Ontario is a proud member of Hike Canada, Ontario Nature and the Ontario Trails Council.

Parks Canada and the (the Great Trail) PARTNERSHIPS: Stronger Together Canadian Mental Health Association: Mood Walks Program

Corporate: Mountain Equipment Coop and Coleman

16 Carolinian Canada: Go Wild Grow Wild Expo promotion and participation

Ontario Parks: Healthy Parks, Healthy People promotion and PARTNERSHIPS: volunteer support Stronger

Together Conservation Ontario: Step Into Nature Healthy Hikes promotion and participation

Hike Haliburton Festival: Promotion, sponsorship and course offerings during the festival

17 In 2019, 35 staff and volunteers of Ontario Colleges and Universities were trained in Hike Ontario’s Safe Hiker and Certified Hike Leader programs.

PROGRAMS: Mood Walks is a provincewide initiative that promotes physical activity in nature, or “green exercise,” as a way to improve both physical and mental health. Led by the Canadian Mental Health Association, Ontario, in partnership with Hike Ontario and Conservation Ontario, Mood Walks provides training and support for community mental health agencies, social service organizations and other community partners to launch educational hiking programs, connect with local resources, find volunteers, and explore nearby trails and green spaces. Proud Partner since 2011

18 19 of our member clubs or trail associations participate in Hike Ontario’s Group Insurance Program.

Trail insurance is an important component to the successful and safe development and management of trails in Ontario. Trail clubs are faced with increasing PROGRAMS: insurance costs that help protect them from liability. The Insurance and Risk pressure of higher insurance rates has placed great burden on many of the hiking and walking clubs and trails Management of Ontario placing many of the treasured recreational resources of Ontario at risk of closure.

Hike Ontario continues to work diligently with its trail partners and insurance providers to provide the best possible policy conditions to suit the needs of its trail clubs. This in turn is working towards managing for safe and sustainable trails systems throughout Ontario for the pleasure of walkers and hikers. Hike Ontario plays a key role in risk management assistance with trail clubs thereby assisting in insurance provision.

19 Member Organizations 2018-2019

The Avon Trail Humber Valley Heritage Trail Association (Bolton Chapter) Bayfield River Valley Trail Association Bighead River Heritage Association (Trout Humber Valley Heritage Trail Association Hollow Trail) (Kleinburg Chapter) Lambton Shores Nature Trails Bruce Trail Conservancy Maitland Trail Association Durham Outdoors Club Elgin Hiking Trail Club Oak Ridges Trail Association Rambling Club Elora Cataract Trailway Association Ottawa Wilderness Adventure Club Friends of the Trail Inc (Quinte West) Ganaraska Hiking Trail Association Inc. Rideau Trail Association Thames Valley Trail Association Grand Valley Trails Association Thunder Bay Hiking Association Guelph Hiking Trail Club Hamilton Burlington Trails Council Voyageur Trail Association Waterloo 55+ Seniors’ Hiking Club

20 Financial Statements

Financial highlights for the year ended June 30, 2019 Hike Ontario is committed to the highest standards of accountability and transparency. To receive a copy of our full financial statements, please contact [email protected]

Revenue Expenditures

1% 14% 18% Insurance Programs 5% 37% Payrolll Insurance 49% 10% Prof Fees Membership Programs Other 32% Admin 34%

Total Revenue $65,990 Total Expenditures $44,862 Hike Ontario www.hikeontario.com

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